Mfundekelwa Mkhulisi

Mfundekelwa Mkhulisi

Karabo Kgwale did not allow anything, including her studies, to stop her from seeing her heroine American tennis player Serena Williams.

Karabo, 8, was the first to get the tennis star's autograph.

"I was happy to see her," said Karabo, a young tennis players. "She is my role model. I love tennis and intend playing it professionally."

Williams, in a white dress, a colourful scarf wrapped around her neck and clutching a black bag, was signing autographs for hundreds of fans in the HP Experience Store in Sandton, Johannesburg, yesterday.

She is in the country courtesy of HP, a technology company that provides printing and personal computing products, services and solutions.

HP general manager Paul Boshoff said the HP brand was perfectly aligned with what Williams represented - "quality, style, and most importantly, performance".

Williams will take part in a tennis play-off and coaching sessions. The proceeds from the play-off will be given to the Starfish Greathearts Foundation, which fights HIV-Aids.